Sailing-Friendly Caribbean Resorts ?

[PKFK]

Hi -

I am looking for recommendations for an excellent caribbean resort that has very good water sports (especially Hobie-Cat's etc.) AND the conditions that allow you to use them (February time frame)

Important items are 4+ star or better, and a good ratio of water toys to guests.

For example, we loved Couples Swept Away in Jamaica - only a few hundred guests, at least 7 "cats" to take out, nice 10-15 KT breeze, and calm enough waters in Negril to allow sailing every day.

In contrast we have stayed at the Iberostar Maya (Mayan Riviera) - beautiful resort, but only about 5 "cats" for 5000 guests, and the prevailing wind and surf conditions meant RED flags most of the time - no sailing !!

The brochures never give any indication of the prevailing conditions or the number of "water toys" available - so it's going to have to be based on input such as this forum.

Althouigh we really liked Couples Swept away - have done that twice now and are looking for a new adventure !

So - what caribbean resorts have you stayed at where the sailing conditions were great along with the resort being excellent ?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[Scott]

nice place

Try the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, BVI

www.beyc.com/

 

[Jalepeno]

Your best value are the "all inclusive" beach resorts in Cuba. Do an internet search or check with any local travel agent. Air Canada Vacations and many others can organize the trip for you.

 

[Blitz]

The Sandals Whitehouse in Jamacia was also very good.

 

[PKFK]

Thanks for the BEYC recommendation - we stopped in there both times on a couple charters in the BVI's. I forgot that they are also a resort ! (I think of it as an anchorage for charter boats !)

I didn't metion it but I am looking more for opinions on all-inclusive resorts - but specifically where you may have been impressed with both the availability of boats as well as good conditions at that particular beach !

We have been to Dom. Rep a couple times, Mexico 3 times, and Jamaica twice for the all-inclusive route.

Bloody Bay in Negril at the Couples resort was the best so far (it was exellent) - and our worst luck with excessive RED flags on the beach was the Mayan riviera at the Iberostar property. (nothing against the resort - it just is exposed to lots of swells and therefore limits the water toy time).

I am very familiar with booking via A/C vacations, Westjet, Redtag, etc - unfortunately they have very limited info on the toys and sailing at any given property.

What I am hoping for is some feedback from the group on AI resorts where the sailing conditions and equipment were good (in the Feb timeframe).

Ottawa sucks in the winter, and my boat is stranded on land till launch in May.

Paul

 

[PKFK]

The Sandals Whitehouse in Jamacia was also very good.

Cool - will check them out. Do you recall if they had Hobie cats ?

(I have a 30' monohull for summer cruising, but for a land-based beach holiday, I love blasting around on the Hobies) :dance:.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

We had a week at SunSail, Club Colonna

on Antiqua. They had plenty of small boats to sail of almost any variety you can think of. My wife and I sailed the Hobies a lot and had a blast, and there was never any problem getting any boat you wanted to sail. Some of the models were for very technically oriented sailors. Many racing dingies were set up with spinakers and a lot of sailors were blasting around in racing harnesses, feet on the rail and all. This is an all inclusive resort that caters exclusively to sailors. You can also charter a cruising size sailboat for daysailing from their charter operation, but availability may be iffy. They had a large selection of widnsurfers that I liked and I also sailed Lasers while on my own. The exposure is open to the trade winds so wind seems to be very reliable, but conditions were never intimidating at all. They do watch you carefully and send a chase boat out anytime you are near the limits of their 'sailing grounds'. They don't let you stray too far away. They give you free access to small runabouts that you can use to visit a small island where there is a beach you can use. They also hold several small 'fun' racing events for sailors during the week.

The drawbacks ... if you want luxury, I would guess it's not for you. If a friendly staff is more important, they do fine. Antigua seems to be a fun island (that's not a negative). They didn't have a nice beach because they are built around access to sailing. I heard they were trying to make improvements, but if you are looking for a nice beaches, you have to find other locations on the island and transportation is expensive and a little bothersome.

They do have a very nice variety of lodging alternatives and we would go there again. It's very British - we were virtually the only American couple at the resort when we stayed there - and it seemed a little reserved with a lot of family atmosphere. They do have excellent facilities for watching and entertaining kids so they are a little oriented that way. There were plenty of people enjoying drinks every night on the other hand, and I swear they must have forgotten half the drinks we ordered because my tab at the end of the week wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it might be!

 

[Andy1237]

Ditto the comments on Club Colonna. Water toy city and very friendly. If you want a 4 star meal then you need to get a taxi to one of the more posh nearby resorts (like The Beach) Seems Hobie Cats and Luxury accommadations are opposites.